Payment and Accounts Offices and other payment offices shall remain open throughout working hours. The absence of staff shall not be a cause for any delay or inability of the payment and accounting systems to work.

F.No.23 (4)/E.Coord/2020
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated : 23.03.2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Functioning of Government Expenditure System during the operation of preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Attention is invited to DOPT OM No 11013/9/2014-Estt- (A-III) Dated 22.03.2020 regarding preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

2. In the present situation, the smooth and normal functioning of the Government Expenditure System is critical to safeguard the public interest. Therefore, the expenditure functions of Government in general and the Integrated Finance Divisions (IFD) of Ministries /Departments and Office of Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in particular, are essential services. Indeed, in certain sectors, the expenditure system may have to function more quickly than normal to cope with the emerging needs.

Contractual staff of Ministries / Departments and other organizations of Government of India, treated as on duty COVID-19

3. Accordingly the following clarifications, with specific reference to IFDs & CGA, are issued.

• Absence of staff shall not be a reason for any delay or non-functioning of the payment and accounting systems.
• Pay and Accounts Offices and other offices dealing with payments shall remain open during working hours.
• Financial Advisors and field offices of the CGA (Pr. CCA, CCA, CA, PAO etc) shall attend office as per normal schedule to ensure coordination and supervision and shall issue suitable instructions for the presence of others as necessary to achieve these objectives.
• The above shall be kept in view by Financial Advisers and the Office of CGA when drawing up the roster, etc as prescribed in the OM referred to above

(Annie G. Mathew)
Additional Secretary to Government of India

DoE

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In view of the lockdown order relating to COVID-19 prevention, as stated by various States / UT Governments, contract workers are expected to remain at home, they shall be considered as “on duty” during such absence time and the requisite pay / wages shall be paid accordingly.

F.No.23(4)/E.Coord/ 2020/1
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 23.03.2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Payment of wages to outsourced persons of Ministries / Departments and other organizations of Government of India during lockdown period due to COVID-19

As part of social distancing and isolation measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country, various State / UT Governments have announced lockdown at different places. Instructions have been separately issued by DOP&T regarding maintenance of essential services in Ministries / Departments.

2. Due to these measures, there is a likelihood of a number of contractual, casual and outsourced staff such as house-keeping staff etc. being required to stay at home, which under normal circumstances would result in deduction in their pay /wages. In order to avoid any undue hardships under the prevailing extraordinary circumstances, it has been decided that wherever any such contractual, casual and outsourced staff of Ministries / Departments and other organizations of Government of India, is required to stay at home in view of lockdown order regarding COVID-19 prevention, as announced by various States/ UT Governments, they shall be treated as “on duty” during such period of absence and necessary pay / wages would be paid accordingly.

Also check: Preventive measures to be taken to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) DoPT Order

3. These instructions shall also apply to Attached/ Subordinate Offices, Autonomous /Statutory Bodies of Government of India.

4. These instructions shall apply till 30th April, 2020.

(Annie G. Mathew)
Additional Secretary to Government of India

Source: DoE

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THE FOLLOWING IS THE EDITORIAL PUBLISHED IN ‘POSTAL CRUSADER’ THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES (NFPE)

IMPORTANCE OF JANUARY 2019 TWO DAYS STRIKE

National Convention of Workers organized by Central Trade Unions (except BMS), independent Federations and Associations viz; Central Government and State Govt. Employees, Banks, Insurance, Defence production employees etc, held at Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi on 28th September 2018, has decided to conduct two days nationwide strike on 8th& 9th January 2019. Earlier, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, in its National Convention held at Hyderabad on 10th June 2018, has decided to go for one day’s nationwide strike on 15th November 2018, demanding settlement of 10 points Charter of demands of Central Govt. Employees, Pensioners, Gramin DakSevaks and casual/contract workers. In the changed circumstances, Confederation has decided to postpone the 15th November 2018 one day strike and to join the two days strike on 8th and 9thJanuary 2019 announced by the National Convention of Workers. There is no change in the 10 points charter of demands of Confederation adopted in the Hyderabad National Convention.

The declaration adopted in the National Convention of Workers held on 28th September 2018 has stated as follows:

“Government is dragging its feet on wage negotiations of public sector in bipartite settlement and 7th Central Pay Commission anomalies of Central Government employees. Four sub committees were formed by the Government to address several issues raised by Central Government employees (NJCA) such as scrapping of New Pension Scheme (NPS) review of Minimum wage and fitment formula, restoration of allowances and allowing option-I as one of the pension benefit formula. But nothing has been done.

The Central Government Employees organisations including the Defence and Railways have been planning united action against the betrayal of the Government and asserting their genuine demands including scrapping of New Pension Scheme. This National Convention extends full support to their struggle and upholds all their demands.”

Thus, the entire Trade unions (other than BMS) has taken serious view of the negative attitude of the Central Government towards the demands of Central Government employees and Pensioners and extended full solidarity and support to our struggle.

Unrest among the New Pension Scheme (NPS) employees is rising day by day. Those NPS employees who retired from service, in 2015 to 2018, after completing ten years’ service are getting a paltry sum of Rs.1000 to 3000 only as monthly annuity pension. How can a pensioner and his family live with such a megre amount as pension. This is equal to “No Pension”, Under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) an employee who completed minimum ten yearsservice is eligible for 50% of last pay drawn as minimum pension.

Regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, the assurance was given to the NJCA leaders by none other than the Hon’bleHome Minister and Finance Minister on 30.06.2016. Two years are over but nothing happened. Government has replied in Parliament that, at present, there is no proposal for increasing Minimum Pay and Fitment formula. Thus the entire Central Govt. Employees are betrayed. Regarding Pensioners, the one and the only favourable recommendation of the 7th CPC i.e. Option-I, stands rejected by Government.

Three lakhs GraminDakSevaks of the Postal department conducted a heroic strike for sixteen days and finally Govt. was compelled to accept their demands.But while issuing orders, eventhough new pay scale recommended by the Kamalesh Chandra Committee is implemented, regarding arrears the Committee’s recommendation was rejected and modified by Govt. Some important recommendations like Children Education Allowance, Time bound three financial upgradations etc. are still pending. Regarding revision of wages of Casual Labourers, orders issued by Postal Directorate is yet to be implemented in some Circles and Divisions and their demand for regularisation is not considered favourably by Govt.

The situation in the country is deteriorating day by day. National economy including value of Indian currency, suffered serious setback due to pro-corporate, anti-labour and anti-people neo-liberal policies pursued by the Central Government, grievously impacting the livelihood of the working people and farmers.

The situation due to steep rise in petrol and diesel prices with cascading effect on increase in prices of all daily life utility items, especially food items, is resulting in torturous impact on common masses. The unemployment situation is getting aggravated with employment generation practically turned negative even in most labour-oriented sectors. The agricultural sector and farmers are in deep distress. The after-effects of demonitisation and faulty GST Continue to adversely impacting the deep crisis set in the fast-paced neo-liberal economic policies of the Government. Lack of job opportunities on the one hand and continued job losses, retrenchments, illegal closures on the other hand are imposing miserable condition on the ordinary families for their food, education of children and medical care of the sick and elderly, Aggressive move to sell the shares of the Public Sector undertakings and onslaught of privatization through various routes like outsourcing, PPP etc. is going on in full swing. The demand for universal social security with guaranteed pension has fallen on deaf ears.

Central Govt. not only refused to respond to the just and genuine demands of the organized agitation of working class, but has been continuing its aggression against the hard-won labourrights of the workers, employees and Trade Unions. It is in this background the entire working class of our country has decided to fight back the onslaught of the Govt. against the working class and peasants.

National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) has been in the forefront of the struggle against the neo-liberal policies of the Govt. especially against the negative attitude of the Govt. towards the Central Govt. Employees demands including Postal employees.

On January 8th& 9th, about 18 to 20 crores organized and unorganized workers will go on two days strike. NFPE HQ calls upon the entirety of Postal and RMS employees including GraminDakSevaks and Casual, Part-time, Contingent employees to join the strike en-mass. It is a struggle for our survival.

Source: Confederation

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. E(LL)/2015/PNM/AIRF/1 New Delhi,
Dated 17.11.2017

The General Manager (P),
All Indian Railways & PUs.

Sub: Provisions in respect of the Contract Workers on IR.

Ref: Board’s letter of even number dated 20.10.2015

Payment of minimum wages to workers employed on Railways under the various provisions of the Contract Labour (R&A) Act, 1970 has become a pivotal issue in the present economic scenario. A meeting in this regard was held by Chief Labour Commissioner (Centre) on 15.11.2017 wherein the following issues, inter alia, were discussed:

(i) Whether new rates of minimum wages w.e.f. 01.04.2017 are being paid to the contract workers;

(ii) Mode of payment to contract workers through bank/cheque/cash;

(iii) Whether provident fund is deducted from the payment made to the contract workers and the same is credited to that PF account;

(iv) Whether medical facilities from ESI are made available to contract workers;

(v) Issue of slips towards payment made to contract worker to bring out transparency in the system.

2. Since the factual report is to be submitted to Ministry of Labour & Employment within 15 days, the Railways are requested to provide the information at the earliest at Fax No. 011 – 23070939.

(M.S. Manju)
Joint Director/E(LL)
Railway Board

Source: Indian Railways

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